Such a wretched slave a traitor! (And) we thought he could be trusted!”
این چنین گراء کی خاین بود ** ما گمان برده که هست او معتمد
How the Khwája bade the girl's mother be patient, saying, “Don't scold the slave: without scolding him I will make him abandon this desire in such a way that neither will the spit be burnt nor the meat be left uncooked.
صبر فرمودن خواجه مادر دختر را کی غلام را زجر مکن من او را بی‌زجر ازین طمع باز آرم کی نه سیخ سوزد نه کباب خام ماند
“Have patience,” said the Khwája: “tell him, ‘We will break off (the match) with him (the prospective bridegroom) and give her to you,’
گفت خواجه صبر کن با او بگو ** که ازو ببریم و بدهیمش به تو
That perchance I may banish this (hope) from his mind: watch and see how I will thwart him.285
تا مگر این از دلش بیرون کنم ** تو تماشا کن که دفعش چون کنم
Gladden his heart and say, ‘Know for sure that our daughter is really your (destined) spouse.
تو دلش خوش کن بگو می‌دان درست ** که حقیقت دختر ما جفت تست
O goodly wooer, we didn't know (that you desired her): (now), since we know (that), you are the most worthy.
ما ندانستیم ای خوش مشتری ** چونک دانستیم تو اولیتری
Our fire is in our own hearth: Laylá (the bride) is ours, and you are our Majnún (bridegroom).’
آتش ما هم درین کانون ما ** لیلی آن ما و تو مجنون ما
(Tell him this) in order that happy fancies and thoughts may affect him: sweet thoughts make a man fat.
تا خیال و فکر خوش بر وی زند ** فکر شیرین مرد را فربه کند
An animal is made fat, but (only) by fodder; man is fattened by honour and eminence.290
جانور فربه شود لیک از علف ** آدمی فربه ز عزست و شرف
Man is fattened through his ear; an animal is fattened through its gullet and by eating and drinking.”
آدمی فربه شود از راه گوش ** جانور فربه شود از حلق و نوش
The mistress said, “Such a vile disgrace! How indeed shall my lips move in this matter?
گفت آن خاتون ازین ننگ مهین ** خود دهانم کی بجنبد اندرین
Why should I talk drivel like this for his sake? Let the devilish traitor die!”
این چنین ژاژی چه خایم بهر او ** گو بمیر آن خاین ابلیس‌خو
“Nay,” replied the Khwája, “have no fear, but wheedle him, in order that his illness may depart from him by virtue of this sweet flattery.
گفت خواجه نی مترس و دم دهش ** تا رود علت ازو زین لطف خوش
Charge me with the task of thwarting him, O beloved, and let that spinner of fine yarns regain his health.”295
دفع او را دلبرا بر من نویس ** هل که صحت یابد آن باریک‌ریس
When the mistress had spoken in this strain to the invalid, on account of his swagger there was no room for him on the earth.
چون بگفت آن خسته را خاتون چنین ** می‌نگنجید از تبختر بر زمین
He grew stout and fat and red(-cheeked), and bloomed like a red rose and gave a thousand thanks.
زفت گشت و فربه و سرخ و شکفت ** چون گل سرخ هزاران شکر گفت
Now and again he would say, “O my mistress, (I am afraid) lest this may be a deception and trick.”
که گهی می‌گفت ای خاتون من ** که مبادا باشد این دستان و فن
The Khwája gave a party and a feast, saying (to his guests), “I am making a match for Faraj,”
خواجه جمعیت بکرد و دعوتی ** که همی‌سازم فرج را وصلتی
So that the company chaffed and quizzed (him) and said, “May your marriage be blessed, O Faraj!”300
تا جماعت عشوه می‌دادند و گان ** که ای فرج بادت مبارک اتصال
With the result that the promise seemed to Faraj more sure, and his illness vanished entirely and radically.
تا یقین‌تر شد فرج را آن سخن ** علت از وی رفت کل از بیخ و بن
Afterwards, on the wedding-night, he (the Khwája) artfully dyed (the hands and feet of) a youth with henna, like (those of) a woman.
بعد از آن اندر شب گردک به فن ** امردی را بست حنی هم‌چو زن
He decorated his fore-arms like (those of) a bride: then he displayed to him (Faraj) a hen, but (actually) he gave him a cock;
پر نگارش کرد ساعد چون عروس ** پس نمودش ماکیان دادش خروس
(For) he dressed the sturdy youth in the veil and robes of beautiful brides.
مقنعه و حله‌ی عروسان نکو ** کنگ امرد را بپوشانید او
Quo tempore mos est sponsam cum conjuge in thalamo relinquere, (paterfamilias) candelam statim exstinxit: manebat Indus coram tali adulescente robusto et aspero. [He (the Khwája) immediately extinguished the candle (at) the time of (conjugal) privacy: the Hindu was left (alone) with such a rough and strong-bodied (young) man.]305
شمع را هنگام خلوت زود کشت ** ماند هندو با چنان کنگ درشت
Indulus clamorem et ululatum tollebat, (sed) tympanistarum causa nemo extra (thalamum) audiebat. [The little Hindú was screaming and crying out, (but) no one heard from without (the bedchamber) because of (the noise of) the tambourine-players.]
هندوک فریاد می‌کرد و فغان ** از برون نشنید کس از دف‌زنان
Tympana pulsata, manus complosae, virorum et feminarum clamores clamorem illius (pueri) clamitantis celabant. [The pounding of tambourines, (clapping of) hands, and the loud shouts of men and women masked the screams of that screamer.]
ضرب دف و کف و نعره‌ی مرد و زن ** کرد پنهان نعره‌ی آن نعره‌زن